Policy Dialogue #Justice4Moldova on the alignment of the three maps of the justice system: courts, prosecution offices, and police
The alignment of the three maps of the justice system—courts, prosecution offices, and the police—was the central theme of the public policy dialogue #Justice4Moldova, held on Monday, 9 February 2026, organized by the Institute for European Policies and Reforms (IPRE) with the support of the European Union and the Soros Foundation Moldova. The event took place at the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Moldova and brought together decision-makers, experts, and representatives of key institutions from the justice sector.
The dialogue aimed to analyze the impact of recent reforms on the functioning of justice institutions, as well as to identify solutions for more effective coordination among courts, prosecution offices, and the police, for the benefit of citizens and the rule of law.
In his opening remarks, Vladislav Cojuhari, Minister of Justice, emphasized the importance of institutional coherence in the reform process: “The alignment of the three maps of the justice system is an essential issue for the coherent functioning of institutions and for strengthening a genuine rule of law. Together with our colleagues from the Ministry of Internal Affairs, we have already worked on the regionalization of the map of the police, and the next step is to correlate it with the maps of the prosecution offices and courts. Today we have clear data showing that the reform of the judicial map is at an advanced stage: the new court structures are already operational, and their consolidation is an institutional priority. This reform is not merely administrative; it pursues a clear objective—a more accessible, more balanced, and more efficient judicial system for citizens. At the same time, the digitalization of justice and the development of judicial infrastructure remain key components for ensuring the reform’s lasting impact. Aligning institutional maps is necessary to avoid dysfunctions and overlaps and to ensure genuine cooperation among justice sector institutions.”
Daniela Vidaicu, Executive Director of the Soros Foundation Moldova, highlighted the human rights dimension of this process: “The reform of the judicial map aimed to increase the efficiency of courts, ensure more rational use of resources, and promote more consistent judicial practice. The prosecution reform sought to strengthen institutional capacity and enhance independence and effectiveness in combating crime, while the reorganization of the police focused on increasing operational capacity and bringing security services closer to the real needs of citizens. Viewed separately, each of these reforms responds to specific needs; viewed together, they must function as a coherent and well-coordinated system to guarantee every citizen access to fair, equitable, and accountable justice.”
Iulian Groza, Executive Director of IPRE, stressed that this reorganization has a direct impact on access to justice: “The reorganization of the institutional maps of justice is not merely an administrative exercise. The way courts, prosecution offices, and the police are aligned directly influences access to justice, the length of proceedings, and the level of public trust. Recent data show that approximately half of citizens believe the situation in the justice sector has improved in recent years, and trust in system actors is on the rise. At the same time, significant challenges persist, including those related to the speed and transparency of procedures. That is precisely why this dialogue aims to openly assess the impact of reforms and, through better coordination among institutions and constant dialogue with society, to help turn initiated changes into concrete results for citizens—a more accessible, more predictable, and more credible justice system.”
The first panel of the event was dedicated to the reorganization of the justice system map and its effects on the functioning of sector institutions. Participants discussed the administrative and operational challenges generated by the reform, the efficient use of human resources, and the need for coordination among the various structures of the system.
Speakers included Sergiu Brigai, Acting Deputy Prosecutor General; Aliona Miron, member of the Superior Council of Magistracy; Elena Roșior, member of the Superior Council of Prosecutors; Dumitru Darea, Director of the Justice Digitalization and Judicial Administration Agency; and Andrei Zagoreanu, representative of the General Police Inspectorate. The discussion was moderated by Adrian Ermurachi, Co-Executive Director of IPRE.
The second panel focused on the impact of recent legislative changes on the observance of human rights, with an emphasis on risks, good practices, and mechanisms for protecting citizens in the context of justice reforms.
During the discussion, Ceslav Panico, the Ombudsman, together with civil society representatives and experts—Angelina Zaporojan-Pîrgari, Octavian Iachimovschi, and Angela Popil—examined how legislative changes may influence access to justice, the protection of fundamental rights, and public trust in state institutions. The panel was moderated by Valerii Voleanschi, Program Officer at the Soros Foundation Moldova.
The event concluded with a question-and-answer session and with conclusions on the next steps needed to consolidate justice reform in the Republic of Moldova.
For more details, watch the recording of the event here.
This event was organized within the project “Ensuring the integrity, efficiency and independence of the justice system in Moldova – #Justice4Moldova, funded by the European Union and co-financed by the Soros Foundation Moldova. This material was produced with the financial support of the European Union. Its content is the sole responsibility of IPRE. The views expressed do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union.
